Machine for dispensing thin elongated objects



Jan. 17, 1967 s. J. WHEATLEY ETAL MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Filed March 27, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Jan. 17, 1967 5. J. WHEATLEY ETAL 3,

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1964 INVENTORS.

Sefh J. Wheafley Harold K. M CaIeb ATTORNEY.

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Filed March 27, 1964 Jan. 17, 1967 s. J. WHEATLEY ETAL 9 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTORS. Sefh J. Wheafley BY Harold K. M Caleb ATTORNEY.

5. J. WHEATLEY ETAL 3,298,564

Jan. 17, 1967 MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Filed March 27, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

b yw MG T C wc h M K l o, M r ea SH ATTORNEY.

Jan. 17, 1967 JEWHEATLEY ETAI; 9

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Filed March 27, 1964 esheets-sheet 5 SWITCH TIME-SECONDS NO. 4 5 6 SEQUENCE CHA'RT F i g. 8.

" INVENTORS.

Sefh J. Wheafley BY Harold K. M Caleb ATTORNEY.

Jan. 17, 1967 5. J. WHEATLEY ETAL momma FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Fil ed March 27, 1964 PHOTO CELL 52' -E T.O.C.

TO RETESTER 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS. Sefh J. Wheafley Harold K. M Caleb ATTORNEY.

1967 5. J. WHEATLEY ETAL 3, ,564

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Filed March 27, 1964 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 H SW [ sw-e I SW43 Fig. 10.

TOP CAM STOP LIMIT 74 77 DOWN 75 76 gg,

DN CAM 75A? LIMIT BACK LOG SWITCH II' I I I fmA UP DOWN C 79A 78 c b 7 9 C INVENTORS.

78D d e Sefh J. WheaHey 7 BY Harold K. MCC o/eb ATTORNEY.

V Jan-17,1967 S. J.WHEVATLEY ETAL 3,

. "MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Filed March 27, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet a CLUTCH con.

v 125 d I TOCLUTCH CIRCUIT 123 MM Fig. 11.

V INVENTORS. GOVERNOR GENERATOR Sefh J. Wheafley BY Harold K. M Caleb ATTORNEY.

17, 1967 s. J. WHEATLEY ETAL 3, 5

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING THIN ELONGATED OBJECTS Filed March 27. 1964 9 She ets-S heet 9 INVENTORS. Sefh J. Wheaf/ey Hqrold K. M CaIeb AT TORNE Y.

United States Patent MACHINEFOR DISPENSING THlN ELQNGATED OBJECTS Seth J. Wheatley, Clinton, Tenn., and Harold K. McCaleb,

Huntsville, Ala., assignors' to the United States of America as represented by the Energy Commission Filed Mar. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 355,519

9 Claims. (Cl. 22110) This, invention relates to machine loaders or dispensing mechanisms and moreparticularly to apparatus capable of receiving, advancing, unscrambling and dispensing-individually,,or in groups, relatively small elongated'objects to a receiver or to a system for further use, processing or fabrication. a g

In the manufacture of quantities of elongated relatively light objects, such as fragile tubes, which require fur.-

ther processing or fabrication through various steps, ban-H jected to a series of processing and/or fabrication and testing steps before finally being loaded in the boxes or shipping or storage containers. ,In the absence of -a machine loader, it has been the practice to use an operator at each machine to manually remove the tubes from their containers and load them into the machine for further processing or testing.

Gne early attempt to develop a machine loader involved a vacuum lift device which would reach into a box of tubes and attach to a group of tubes, and then withdraw the selected tubes from the box. This device proved very destructive to fragile tubes in that the boxed tubes were tangled as a result of the loading technique, so that when the lift device pulled a tube from the box the tubes were often damaged by bending or breaking. A magnetic pickup device was tried later but was also abandoned because of the excessive damage to tubes.

Another method which showed promise of success utilized a series of tines which were inserted into the ends of the boxed tubes. The selected tubes were then lifted slightly and an arm was inserted under the selectedtubes and-moved along the length of the tubes to separate them from those remaining in the box. duced inconsistent results in engaging the fingers in the tubes and was not adopted.

A further device utilized a magnetic belt which passed under another belt having rubber fingers protruding downward. Tubes carried under the fingered belt were swept down to a single layer by the rubber fingers so that the tubes proceeding therefrom were in a single layer ready for dispensing individually to a machine. This apparatus was not adopted due to excessive cost of construction and unreliable operation.

Applicants with a knowledge of the problems of the systems of the prior art have for an object of their invention the provision of a feeding mechanism for elongated objects which will reduce scrambling by employing rotating brushes for sweeping the objects back into single rows and restraining pileup.

Applicants have as another object of their invention the provision of a feeding mechanism for elongated objects which interrupts the flow of the objects from the loading United States Atomic jects that employs a periodic tampingo-peration applied This approach pro- Patented Jan. 17 1967 point so that the number of the objects traveling toward the exit becomes progressively smaller as the set of unscrambling sweep brushes is approached, thereby con.-. tributing to the arrangement of the objects for discharge Applicants have as'a further object of their invention 1 the provision-of a feeding mechanism-for elongated objectsthatemploys a slanting vibrating surface which insures the continued passage of the objects.

Applicants have, as a still further object of their invention the provision of a feed mechanism for elongated obto the ends of the objects being fed in order to bring them into and maintain their alignment.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the following. specification and accompanying t drawings, and the novel features thereof will be particular? ly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic of our improved machine loader. FIG. 2 is a plan view of our improved machine loader. FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of our improved machine loader taken along the line 33 of circuit diagram of a portion of the control circuit of our improved loading machine. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram .ofxanother portion of the. control circuit. FIG. 11 is a diagram of a control circuit for a conventional magnetic clutch. ,FIG. 12 is a diagram of the circuit of a typical photocell.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 is a schematic which shows the general arrangement of the invention broken into three sections; a loading section, an unscrambling section and a magazine section. matic showing will provide a, general understanding of the invention as described in connection with the dispensing of small, relatively fragile tubes. The unscrambling section is comprised of a sloped, vibrated table 13, a plurality of circular, rotating brushes 4 and 5 and a series of retractable gates 1, 2 and 3.

ing means suitable for withdrawing each gate individually.

The table, 13 is tilted slightly downward from the -load-.

ing or charging point to promote movement of the tubes 14 toward the discharge point or magazine section. A

slope of seven to eleven degrees has been found to be a. preferred slope.

Table 13 is equipped with suitable vibrators (preferably-three) which give horizontal vibration in two directions as shown by the figure. A plurality of transverse slots are provided in the table 13 to accommodate the gates 1, 2 and 3.

Gates 1, 2 and 3 are operatively connected to a retractin sequential order. A pneumatically operated cylinder positioned at the terminal end of each gate serves as a retracting means in the preferred embodiment. The gates 1, 2 and 3, which are bathe-like in appearance, are withj brushes 4 and 5.

I layeredtubes approaching said brushes will be swept back,

This sche.-.

permitting only a single layer to pass under the final set of rotating brushes 5.

For the purpose of controlling the backlog of tubes along the table, the photocells are provided. Photocell 52 ensures that the machine to be fed is in operation and the dispensing mechanism functions only when sufficient tubes are available to dispatch to it at the feeder exit. Photocell 9 is provided to limit the size of the backlog of tubes available by controlling the operation of the gates. Photocell 10 is provided to limit the buildup of tubes ahead of the brushes, by controlling the release of tubes by the gates.

The sequence of operation beginning at the loading point and proceeding to the discharge point may best be understood by the following: small, relatively fiexible tubes contained in perforated or mesh typemetal boxes are unloaded at the upper elevation of the vibrated, sloped table 13, as shown in FIG. 1, by means of vibration and a screw type lift arrangement, shown in FIG. 3. A backlog switch indicated at 11, may control the lift and vibrators to permit the box of tubes to be tilted and a portion thereof to be transferred from the box to the vibrated table 13. Tubes passing from the box to the table 13 are moved in semi-aligned fashion by gravity and the forward motion of the vibrating table. Tubes passing to the top of table 13 stop against gate 1 at a preselected depth determined by switch 11. Switch 11 stops the dumping action by deactuating the lift and vibrator. Gate 1 opens to permit the most advanced group of tubes to pass and stop against gate 2. Applicants have found that two'seconds is an optimum time for gate 1 to remain open in this arrangement. The number of tubes passing gate 1 is thereby limited. Table 13 is vibrated constantly in a horizontalfashion having the tendency of causing the tubes to settle to a single layer on top of the table 13. Gate 2 opens and remains open for a period of about three seconds, thus permitting a portion of the tubes behind gate 2 to move down to gate 3.

The combination of the forward movement of the tubes, the constant vibration of the table and the decreasing number of tubes moving forward each time tend to cause the tubes to separate so that essentially a single layer of tubes is formed. Gate 3 opens and remains open for seven seconds, permitting the tubes to move toward the brushes. As the tubes move toward the first row of brushes, indicated by the numeral 4, any tubes which are resting on top of other tubes have the opportunity .of settling down to the table top in a single layer. Should any tubes reach the brushes not in a single layer, thebr-ushes can sweep back all but a single layer. The tubes first pass under brushes 4 and then brushes 5. Brushes 4 are adjusted slightly higher above table 13 than brushes 5 in order to permit crossed tubes to be swept back more easily without damage to tubes.

The magazine section begins at the point at which brushes 5 are tangent to a plane which is parallel to table 13. A guide 6 is positioned with its upper vertical edge in line with the point at which brushes 5 are tangent to a plane which is parallel to table 13'. Guide 6 is in fixed spatial relationship with table 13 to permit a single layer of tubes to pass therebetween. The aligned, unscrambled tubes progress down the sloped, vibrated magazine portion of table 13 and are stopped by the fingers 8. When the tubes behind fingers 8 back up to photoelectric switch 52, fingers 8 working in alternating fashion with blocks 7 dispense the tubes from the magazine individually or in groups depending upon the spacing between fingers 8 and blocks 7. Blocks 7 press against the tubes adjacent the lowermost tube or tubes to clamp them against the base of the magazine and hold them in place while fingers 8 retract to dispense the lowermost tube or tubes and the operation is repeated. Thus, as long as the tubes in the magazine are backed up past the photoelectric switch 52, the light beam beneath the table is interrupted and blocks 7 and fingers 8 will operate alternatively to dispense the 4 unscrambled tubes individually. Tubes may be released to a production machine at preselected rates of up to 70 per minute.

A second photoelectric switch 9 prevents gate 3 from opening until the tubes lying between brushes 4 and brushes 5 are dispensed down to a position approximating the point where the beam from light source 48 passes through an opening in table 13.

The upper photo cell 10 is responsive to the dumping of tubes just ahead of brushes 5 when gate 3 is lowered. When tubes are released by the lowering of gate 3, the light beam from the light source beneath table 13 is interrupted by the passing tubes, causing photocell 10 to become inoperative and opening the circuit to the retracting means for lowering gate 3, causing it to remain in raised position until the tubes have all passed.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, showing a preferred embodiment of our invention, 20 designates a metal frame that serves as the body of the machine. It is preferably fabricated by welding tubular members together into a body structure. Mounted on the upper portion of the frame on resilient-type mountings 21, shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, is a downwardly slanting table 13' adapted to be vibrated in two directions, horizontally by electromagnetically or pneumatically operated vibrators 22 of any suitable form such as a Peterson pneumatically operated vibrator,'Patent Nos. 2,480,603, 2,528,319 or 2,518,250, secured thereto.

On one end of the frame 20 adjacent the upper end of the table 13 is a box holder frame 23 fabricated from tubular members. Projecting longitudinally outward from opposite corners of the frame is a pair of short shafts 90,

that seat in bearings 24, 24 carried by the frame 20.

Mounted on one of the shafts 90 beyond the bearings 24 are cams 91, 92 and 9 3 that rotate with the shaft and operate lower limit switch 77, upper limit switch 73 and the 10-inch limit switch 81, respectively, as indicated in FIG. 6.

The box holder 23 is swung upwardly by means of a jack screw 25 pivotally joined thereto at 26 through an car 94 near an intermediate portion of the holder. The jack screw 25 is operated by a clutch contained in the housing of motor 28 through belt 30 and conventional gearing 120 such as a worm cooperating with a gear nut 27 threaded on the jack screw 25. The operation of the clutch, described hereinafter, is electrically controlled and continuously driven by a conventional A.C. motor 28, herein called the box motor, mounted on a platform 29, through bolts 95 or other suitable means. The box motor mounting 29 is pivotally mounted on the central part of body 20 by standard 96 that carries pin 31 to permit displacement as needed during the upward travel of the box holder 23.

Suspended from the under side of table 13 is a support 3 2 which mounts a plurality of air cylinders 33, 34, 35 that serve to actuate gates 1', 2', 3', respectively, that project upwardly through spaced elongated slots or openings 36, 37 and 38 in the table 13.

Positioned over the table 13' adjacent the lower end thereof and mounted on a pair of spaced shafts 15, 15 that extend across or transverse to the table, are two rows of spaced circular rotating brushes 4', 5' of conventional type, positioned in off-set relation with respect to each other, as shown in FIG. 2. The brushes 4, 5' are rotated at constant speed clockwise or in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the tubes along the table by brush motor 40 driving through a speed reducer 121, shown in FIG. 4, that reduces the speed from about 1750 r.p.m. to about 106 r.p.m. This assembly is mounted on the frame 20 near one side and is coupled to the shafts by belt 39 which passes over idler pulley 42 mounted on table 13, pulleys 41, 41 and drive pulley 43. Motor 40 may be any suitable A.C. type of electric motor adapted to rotate at about 1750 r.p.m.

Positioned on the exit side of the rotating brushes 4', 5 is a conventional type magazine feeding mechanism including a series of spaced upper jaws or blocks 7' of suflicient length to, clamp a group of tubes in position, and spaced therefrom toward the exit end a distance of one or more tube diameters, is a series of spaced lower pivoted fingers 8' for releasing one or more tubes, as desired, to the machine to be fed. The lower fingers 8 and upper jaws 7 are mounted, respectively,on oscillating shafts 100, 101 rotated back and forth through linkages 1G2, 103 by an aircylinder 51 controlled by solenoid 59 of FIG. 7. Shafts 100, 101 may be mounted in appro priate hearings on frame 20. Mounted on the frame 20 between the feeding mechanism and the brushes are guide plates 44, 45 for guiding a single layer of tubes from the brushes to the feeding mechanism. I

For the purpose of keeping the tubes in longitudinal alignment as they travel down the slanting table 13, a thin elongated tamping plate 46 of FIG. 2 is provided along each side of the table near its edge. Each plate is mounted near either extremity on the piston of an air cylinder 47 carried by frame 20, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. By the periodic operation of the air cylinder the tamping plates are caused to simultaneously oscillate toward and away from the edges of the table 13' and toward and away from each other to engage the ends of unaligned tubes moving down the table'13, and displacing them' to bring them into longitudinal alignment. I

For the purpose of controlling the flow of tubes through the feeding machine, a backlog switch 11 including an arm of resilient conductive material mounted on a block of insulation on the upper cross member of frame 20 projects downwardly a predetermined distance to engage the tubes as they pile up above a desired level when the gates are in raised position. A control circuit is completed from the resilient arm through the tubes to the frame 20 of the machine when the tubes pile up and engage the arm. This control circuit acts to limit further upward movement of the box holder. Then on one side only of the table 13' at an intermediate portion adjacent to the rows of brushes are located start and stop photocells 9 and respectively, excited from light sources 48, 49. The final photocell 52 is located between the brushes 4, 5 and the feeding mechanism 7', 8 to control the backlog of tubes at the exit of the feeding mechanism toensure that there will always be available tubes at the dropping end of the feeder machine. It is excited from light source 66 positioned beneath plate 45.

The box holder 23, referred to above, includes a body in the form of an open skeleton structure or frame portion with a bed plate 56 to receive an elongated container or box of tubes. The bed plate may be mounted on resilient supports 57 similar to the mounts 21 for thetable shown in FIG. 5. The holder 23 is partially suspended from the upper portion of the machine frame 20. This container or box 67 may be manually positioned in the box holder 23 with its upper end open and be clamped in place by toggle clamps 54 carried by body 71 and engageable with cross member 53. The closing of the clamps 54 anchors the container or box 67 in place on the holder 23. For the purpose of vibrating the box holder 23 suitable vibrators, such as Peterson pneumatic vibrators, mentioned above, are mounted on the bed plate 56.

A preferred type of resilient support for mounting the vibrating table and the vibrating boX holder body is shown in FIG. 5. It preferably takes the form of casing 58 which receives a rubber block 59 in which is embedded a metal disk 60 seated in an annular groove 61 in the casing. A central bore receives a bushing 62 through which passes a bolt 63 for joining and supporting the table or bed plate. Casing 58 is preferably mounted on the frame 20 or box holder 23 through studs or bolts 64.

The operation of the system can best be understood by reference to the control circuits of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11,

and the time chart of FIG. 8. When the operator closes the manual start switch 65, this energizes the brush motor contactor relay BM and energizes the brush motor 40. It also closes the contacts BM1 of the control circuits, and locks itself in with contacts BM-Z. The closing of contacts BM1 brings energy to photocell 52' located at the dispensing or lower end of the machine. The photocell 52 of FIG. 3 has normally open contacts 52A and when the photocell is dark operated these contacts close. Thus, when there is a backlog of tubes, as in FIG. 1, the light source positioned beneath the table is interrupted by the tube bodies so that the photocell 52', positioned above the table, is operated. Therefore, the backlog of tubes which causes the photocell to be operated closes contacts 52'A and this completes a circuit for supplying power to timer T However, timer T is a delay acting relay, so constituted that mere voids or spaces between tubes in the backlog on the table will not be sufiicient to operate it. The contacts T1A of relay timer T are in the circuit that supplies power to the machine to be fed and constitutes a permissive switch that permits the machine, which is being fed by the feeder machine, described herein, to become operative at any time thereafter and at the option of the operator. It is assumed that the machine to be fed, herein called the Retester, is now operating. Relay R of FIG. 9 is energized closing contacts R-l energizing solenoid valves 84, 85 for supplying air to actuate vibrators 22, 55 of FIG. 7. When in the proper orientation, the Retester machine closes contacts 106 completing a circuit to the power source and energizing the feeder drop solenoid 50. Contacts 106 of FIG. 9 are preferably closed by a rotating cam (not shown) on the machine to-be-fed, to start the dropping of the tubes at the proper time. The on-olf switch 122 is used by inspectors so that the machine to be fed may be calibrated without dropping a tube. The energizing of feeder drop solenoid 50 operates the discharge mechanism including jaws 7 and fingers 8' of FIG. 4. The operation is such that air flow from the feeder drop solenoid 50 actuates an air piston 51 driving it in one direction to rotate shaft 101 and cause jaws 7' to clamp the part of the backlog of tubes thereunder while leaving the lower tube of the backlog beyond the jaws 7 free and by rotating shaft to raise the fingers 8 so the lowermost tube may be released. Then, when feeder solenoid 50 is deenergized by the opening of contacts 106 in response to the continued operation of the cam, air pressure is shifted to the opposite end of the piston to drive it back in the opposite direction and rotate shaft back and lower the fingers 8 to hold the backlog of tubes while also rotating shaft 101 back to raise the jaw 7 and permit the backlog to roll down against the end of the lower finger 8'.

As this sequence continues, the backlog of tubes flows down from under the brushes 4', 5' and permits the light sources 66, 43 and 49, located beneath the table 13, to shine through the openings in the table and fall upon and energize the photocells 9 and It) positioned above the table, as generally indicated in FIG. 3. When both of the photocells 9 and 10' are energized, the start and stop contacts 9'A and liiA of FIG. 9 are closed. This energizes the delay relay timer T Timer T is similar to timer T and serves a similar purpose to that of timer T i.e., prevents false operation due to existence of voids between tubes when there is a backlog. The operation of timer T closes contacts T2A of FIG. 10 and this completes a circuit to a motor driven gate cycle sequence switch SW. In this instance, the timer motor of switch SW has 8 sets of contacts. Any suitable form of multi-contact motor switch may be used, such as the Eagle Signal Companys MP8A601, IO-second range signal motor multiple repeat cycle timer. As the motor switch SW operates, it is sealed in by the closing of contacts SW-l to ensure its continued operation for one complete cycle independently of the operation of photocells 9 and 10' and the delay relay T2. As the motor of switch SW con inues to turn, contacts SW-3 are closed, operating the gate solenoid 68 and reversing the air flow to cylinder 35 of FIG. 3, causing the gate 3' to be lowered to the level of the table 13'. This permits only tubes behind or above the lower gate 3 to move under the influence of the vibration of the table downwardly under the brushes 4, 5'. In normal operation, this flow will not be excessive, but if an unusually large number of tubes have built up behind gate 3' their release will interrupt the light beam to photocell sufficiently long to open the contacts 10A of FIG. 9, deenergize relay T2, and keep contacts TZA open sufiiciently long to stop motor switch SW, after one cycle, when contacts SW-l are opened. The sequence will then be delayed until the backlog of tubes is disposed of. However, if the flow of tubes is normal, then after four seconds, as shown by the time chart of FIG. 8, contacts SW-3 open and permit solenoid 68 to become deenergized and the air flow to be reversed to cylinder 35 so that its position is extended and the gate 3 is again raised above the table 13'. At this time, contacts SW4 and SW6 are closed by the operation of motor switch SW. The closing of contacts SW-4 energizes solenoid 69 which shifts the air flow to air cylinder 34 to retract its piston and lower the intermediate gate 2 to the level of table 13' for a period of about three seconds, as shown by the time chart of FIG. 8. When the gate 2 reaches the level of the table 13, the tubes piled up behind it roll down, under the influence of gravity, over the slanting vibrating table until they reach the obstruction formed by the raised lower gate 3. The closing of contacts SW-6 completes a permissive circuit that permits the box motor 28 of FIG. 3 to be energized if the backlog switch 11' of FIGS. 2 and 3 is not closed. At the end of three seconds, contacts SW4- are opened and gate solenoid 69 is deenergized switching the air flowing to air cylinder 34 and raising gate 2' above the table 13'. At this time switch contacts SW-S are closed for a period of about two seconds by the operation of motor switch SW, as shown by the time chart of FIG. 8, and during this interval, switch contacts SW-6 remain closed. The closing of contacts SW-5 operate solenoid gate valve 70 to shift the air flow to air cylinder 33, retract its piston, and lower the upper gate 1 to the level of the table 13'. This action permits the backlog of tubes behind gate 1' to roll down against raised gate 2'. At the end of two seconds, switch SW5 opens, deenergizes solenoid 7t) and this reverses the application of air to cylinder 33 to raise gate 1' above the level of table 13'. At this time the contacts SW6 are opened and this interrupts the circuit 123 of FIG. 10 to the clutch of box motor 28 causing it to be disengaged from the constant rotating box motor and preventing the box from raising even when the backlog switch Till is open.

The time chart of FIG. 8 is based on the assumption that gate 3' is down for four seconds since only a relatively few tubes are behind it and this will give ample opportunity for their escape. Gate 2' is down for three seconds since there are more tubes behind it and can escape faster. Gate 1 may have a large pile of tubes behind it and can only be left open for two seconds; otherwise too many tubes would escape and pile up behind gate 2. The contacts of switch SW6 are employed to prevent an avalanche of tubes from the tube box or container 67 by limiting the upward movement of the box to five seconds of travel.

When tubes pass through the gates they build up a backlog along the floor or surface of the table 13' beneath the brushes 4', 5' of FIG. 3. This backlog of tubes interrupts the passage of light from the light source or sources beneath the table to their respective photoelectric cells positioned above the table and causes the contacts 9'A of the photocell 9' of FIG. 9 to open. This deenergizes the time relay T and opens the contacts T2A of FIG. 10. However, the motor switch SW does not immediately become deenergized because of the holding circuit through contact SW-l. Instead, the motor switch SW continues to operate for one cycle before seal-in contacts SW-l are opened. In the present arrangement this one cycle of further travel consumes about 9 seconds, after which the motor switch SW is deenergized provided the condition noted above remains, that is, the backlog of tubes continues to render the circuit of the photocell 9' inoperative by interrupting the beam from the light source. Otherwise, contact T2A would again be closed and the switch motor SW would continue to operate. It will be noted that to reenergize the switch motor SN, both photocells 9' and 10' would need to be energized so that the series circuit through contacts 9A and ltVA would again be made.

During the feeding of the tubes and their passage down the table, the tamper elements or plates 46 continue to oscillate and align the tubes lengthwise as indicated above. This operation is initiated at the time of the closing of the start switch 65 for the brush motor since the completion of the system circuit through contact BM-l energizes motor switch SW which is similar to motor switch SW and may take any suitable form such as a fourcontact Eagle Signal Company switch No. MP4A601 with a six second cycle. In this arrangement only three of the four contacts are utilized, the fourth contact serving as a spare. The operation of motor switch SW first closes contacts SW1 completing the circuit to and energizing the tube tamper solenoid winding 72. Since the driver air cylinders 47 of the tamper are spring biased to retracted position and are only operated to extended position by air, the energizing of solenoid 72 supplies air to it for operation. The contacts of switch SW'-1 remain closed for one second, then open. The opening of contacts SW1 removes the air supply from air cylinders 47 and permits them to retract under spring bias. Then at the end of two seconds, switch SW2 closes, energizing solenoid 72 again for one second and supplying air to air cylinders 47. At the end of three seconds contacts SW-2 open removing the air supply from air cylinders 47 permitting them to open. Then at the end of four seconds switch SW'3 closes energizing solenoid 72 for one second. At the end of five seconds, contacts SW3 open, deenergizing solenoid 72 and permitting air cylinders 47 to again retract. This cycle repeats over and over again. In short, when the solenoid 72 is energized, it permits air to flow to one end of the air cylinders 47 of FIGS. 2 and 7 to drive the opposed tamp plates 46 toward the table, and when the solenoid is deenergized by the opening of the switch the air flow to cylinders 47 is cut off and the spring bias causes the pistons to retract and draw the tamp plates away from the table, thereby giving the tamp plates 46 an oscillatory motion toward and away from the table to engage the ends of the tubes and bring them into longitudinal alignment on the table 13.

When the box and holder are raised to the position where the box is empty of its contents of tubes, the top cam limit switch 73 of FIGS. 4 and 6 opens and interrupts the circuit of the winding 74 on the box motor of FIG. 10 and this deenergizes and stops the box motor 28 of FIG. 3. Then, the operator, in order to replace the empty container with a new supply of tubes, closes manual down switch 75 of FIG. 10 completing a circuit to the on winding 76 of the box motor 28 causing it to rotate in the opposite direction. The :box holder 23 with the empty box 67 contained therein, as shown in FIG. 3 continues to move downwardly to its lowest position and is stopped by the down cam limit switch 77 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. It will also be noted that the closing of the manual down switch 75 for the box motor 28 energizes relays 78 and 79, through the contacts 75B, while contacts 75A merely serve as a holding circuit for down relay 76. The closing of contacts 75B and the energizing of relays 78 and 79 closes contacts 78A and 78B and opens contacts 78C and 78D in the speed control circuit. It also closes contacts 79B and opens contacts 79C in the control circuit 113 and closes contact-s 79A in the clutch circuit 123 of FIG. 10. This sequence causes the clutch to reduce the slippage so that the box is driven at high speed by connecting the clutch circuit of FIG. 11 to the fast speed network when contacts 78A, 78B and 79B are closed.

' Network 113 of FIG. is a slippage control network for the magnetic clutch housed with box motor 28 of FIG. 3. This controls the speed of rotation of worm drive 120 and in turn the jack screw 25. The clutch and its circuit may take any suitable form such as the Ad justo-Spede, Model U3A1, of Louis Allis Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A preferred form of control circuit is shown in FIG. 11. The speed control network 113 of FIG. 10 forms a part of a bridge circuit including duo diode 124, resistor 1'25 and governor generator 126. Insertion of the high speed portion of network 113 unbalances the left side of the bridge including the circuit of resistor 125. This signal is applied to tube 127 through its control grid and causes the tube to increase its conduction, causing current to increase through magnetic clutch winding 128. This increases the magnetic coupling and reduces slippage of the clutch. It also increases the speed of governor generator 126 which is driven by the clutch, and this restores balance to the bridge circuit, causing the slippage to stabilize and the system to come into equilibrium.

When the slow speed portion of network 113 replaces the high speed network, the bridge is again unbalanced. This reduces current flow in tube 127 and reduces flow through magnetic clutch winding 128, thereby increasing the slippage, and finally restoring equilibrium through the action of generator governor 126, in the manner outlined above.

Release of the clutch is controlled by circuit 123 of FIG. 10, connected to terminals d, 2. Closing of the circuit completes the bridge circuit to network 113 and tube 124. Opening of circuit 123 disengages the clutch by opening the bridge circuit and permits application of signal to tube 127 and interrupts current flow through the winding 128 of the magnetic clutch.

When the box holder reaches its lower extremity of travel, cam 91 of FIG. 6 trips limit switch 77 and this opens the circuit to down winding solenoid 76' of the box motor of FIG. 10, opening contacts 75A and 75B of switch 75. The box holder 23 of FIG. 4 has its empty container replaced with a full one. This is accomplished by releasing clamps 54 and disengaging them from the cross member 53 and inserting a new box of tubes and clamping the container in place through cross member 53. Then the operator closes the manual up switch 80 and seals in the circuit through the closed contacts 80A, and since the 10-inch high limit switch 81 was closed by cam 93 of FIG. 6, as the box holder 23 traveled toward the bottom position, relays 78, 79 of the circuits of FIG. 10 are energized so that contacts 78A, 78B and 79B of the speed control network 113 are closed along with the clutch relay 79A, and the box motor is moving the box holder 23 upwardly at a rapid speed. This continues until the box has moved up to 10 inches from its lower level and cam 93 of FIG. 6 opens IO-inch level switch 81 of FIG. 6, deenergizing relays 78 and 79' of FIG. 10 and opening contacts 78A, 78B, 79A and 79B and closing contacts 78C, 78D and 79C and switching box motor from the lower fast speed control portion network 113 to the slow speed control portion of the network and bringing the box motor clutch 27 of FIG.- 3 under the control of the backlog switch 11' and the permissive contacts SW-6 of the motor switch SW to control the further upward travel of the box. This control is accomplished when relay 79 is deenergized, as indicated above, and contacts 79A of FIG. 10 are opened which removes the by-pass across circuit contacts 111'A of the backlog relay 111 and contacts SW-6 of motor switch SW. When a backlog of tubes develops on the table above the switch 11 of FIG. 3, an electric circuit through the tubes between the switch contact 11 and the table 13' of the machine is completed, energizing relay 111. This opens normally closed contacts 111'A in the clutch circuit for the box motor. This disengages clutch 27 of FIG. 3 and stops the raising of jack screw 25.

This condition persists as long as there is a backlog of tubes sufiicient to maintain the electric circuit across backlog switch 11. However, when the backlog diminishes and opens the circuit across 11', relay 111 is deenergized and contacts 111'A in the clutch control circuit again close completing the circuit to energize the box motor clutch 27 which raises the jack screw 25.

It may be noted that a transformer 82 is employed to supply power for relay 111'. This is a safety precaution so that the normal 120 volt power source may be stepped down to 12 volts in order to protect the operator should he come into personal contact with the backlog switch 11. Zener diodes 83 across relay 111 will serve to obviate inductive kick-back at backlog switch 11' and prevent disagreeable consequences to the operator should he come into accidental personal contact with that switch.

The photocells 52', 9, and 10' may be of any suitable type. One commercially available type is the Scanner relay, Model PE3B of Farmer Electric Products Company, Inc. of Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts. The circuit of FIG. 12 shows such a photocell wherein transformers 110 are supplied from a conventional A.C. source. One secondary supplies photoelectric tube 152 and an amplifier circuit which includes a network 112 and a duo triode 111. The output of the second half of the duo triode is coupled to relay 153. The other secondary supplies power for the filament of tube 111.

The photocell may be light operated as in the case of photocells 9, 10 or it may be dark operated as in the case of photocell 52'. If light operated, it energizes the control relay in response to light. If dark operated, it deenergizes the control relay in response to light.

For the light operated condition, light from a source reaches the photoelectric cell 152, a signal is produced and current flows up through the photoelectric cell and over the broken lines of connector 154, and through network 112 making control grid of tube 111 more positive. It is amplified sufficiently in duo triode 111 to operate relay 153, and close its contacts.

For the dark operated condition, the connector or switch 154 is in the full line position and signal current flows in the opposite direction through photoelectric cell 152 making the control grid connected to network 112 more negative and causing amplifier 111 to cease conducting. This deenergizes relay 153 upon the application of light.

Although it has been mentioned that the vibrators 22 and 55 for the table 13' and the box holder frame 71 of FIG. 3 are controlled by solenoids 84 and through the action of contacts R-l, located in the control circuit of FIG. 9 of the machine being fed (not shown), it should also bepointed out that contacts 9'B of the stop gates photocell 9 serve a similar purpose. When the machine to be fed is not operating, photocell 9 continues to be energized until the backlog of tubes builds up and interrupts the light from the light source 48 of FIG. 3. This keeps the solenoids 84, 85 energized and is done to provide a backlog of tubes for the machine to be fed when it is made operative again. The circuit of solenoids 84, S5 is bridged across the power supply and becomes energized upon the closing of the manual start switch 65 that energizes brush motor relay BM and closes contacts BM-l.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A feeding machine for dispensing elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving long thin objects to be dispensed, means for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, oscillating means positioned on either side of the surface for engaging the ends of the objects and moving them into longitudinal alignment with the others, a series of rotating brushes positioned above an intermediate portion of the surface for engaging raised overlapping objects and sweeping them back up the surface to rearrange them, and feeding means below the brushes for dispensing objects passing under the brushes.

2. A feeding machine for individually dispensing thin elongated objects, comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a vibrator for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, means located in an intermediate portion of the supporting surface for periodically engaging and interrupting the flow of objects over the surface to limit their travel and the pile up of objects, moving brushes positioned above the surface beyond the interrupting means for cooperating with it to engage and disperse a pile up of objects, and feeding means located below the brushes for dispensing the objects.

3. A feeding machine for individually dispensing thin elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a hopper at the upper end of the supporting surface, means for displacing the hopper to feed the objects to the surface, a vibrator for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, means located in an intermediate portion of the surface for periodic movement into engagement with the objects to interrupt this flow over the surface to limit their travel and reduce pile up, moving brushes positioned above the surface and beyond the interrupting means for engaging and dispersing a pile up of objects, and feeding means located below the brushes for dispensing the objects.

4. A feeding machine for individually dispensing elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a pivoted hopper at the upper end of the surface, means for swinging the hopper about its pivot to feed objects to the surface, a vibrator for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, means located in an internediate portion of the surface for projecting above it to periodically engage the objects and interrupt their travel, moving brushes positioned a predetermined distance above the surface and beyond the interrupting means for cooperation with it to engage the objects and overcome pile up, and feeding means positioned below the brushes for dispensing objects passing under them.

5. A feeding machine for dispensing elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a vibrator for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, a plurality of spaced gates positioned at an intermediate portion of the surface to periodically interrupt the flow of objects down the surface, moving brushes below the gates and above the surface a predetermined distance to engage and disperse a pile up of objects, and feeding means for dispensing objects passing under these brushes.

6. A feeding machine for dispensing elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a vibrator for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, a plurality of spaced gates positioned at an intermediate portion of the surface to periodically interrupt the flow of objects down the surface, moving brushes below 12 the gates and above the surface a predetermined distance to engage and disperse a pile up of objects, feeding means for dispensing objects passing under these brushes, and means responsive to the backlog of objects of the feeding means for controlling the operation of the gates to adjust the backlog.

7. A feeding machine for individually dispensing elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a vibrator for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, a plurality of spaced gates positioned at an intermediate portion of the surface to periodically interrupt the flow of objects down the surface, moving brushes positioned below the gates and above the surface a predetermined distance to engage and disperse a pile up of objects, feeding means for dispensing objects passing under these brushes, and signal means located adjacent the brushes and responsive to backlog above the feeding means for producing signals to control the operation of the gates.

8. A feeding machine for dispensing elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a pivoted hopper at the upper end of the surface, means for swinging the hopper about its pivot to feed objects to the surface, a backlog switch located adjacent theupper end of the surface and responsive to pile up of objects to limit the movement of the hopper, a vibrator for vibrating the surface to cause the objects to travel down over it, moving brushes positioned a predetermined distance above the surface to engage the objects and prevent pile up, a feeding means positioned below the brushes for dispensing objects passing under them.

9. A feeding machine for dispensing elongated objects comprising a supporting surface slanting downwardly for receiving the objects to be dispensed, a movable hopper adjacent the upper end of the surface for supplying objects to the upper portion thereof, a plurality of vibrators for vibrating the hopper and surface to cause the objects to flow from the hopper to the surface and downwardly over the surface, a series of moving brushes positioned above the lower part of the surface to sweep over the objects as they move downwardly and prevent a pile up, a gate interposed between the hopper and the brushes for interrupting the flow of the objects along the surface, and feeding means located below the brushes for dispensing the objects after they pass under the brushes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,491,169 9/1924 Root 221 X 1,497,576 9/1924 Molins 221174 2,661,830 12/1953 Total 198220 X 2,849,980 9/1958 Collins et al 19830 X 2,952,104 9/1960 Stover 221--11 X 2,957,497 10/1960 Baumann 221-183 X 3,061,066 10/1962 Re Casino 198-30 FOREIGN PATENTS 621,793 2/1963 Belgium. 113,735 4/ 1945 Sweden.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner. 

1. A FEEDING MACHINE FOR DISPENSING ELONGATED OBJECTS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING SURFACE SLANTING DOWNWARDLY FOR RECEIVING LONG THIN OBJECTS TO BE DISPENSED, MEANS FOR VIBRATING THE SURFACE TO CAUSE THE OBJECTS TO TRAVEL DOWN OVER IT, OSCILLATING MEANS POSITIONED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SURFACE FOR ENGAGING THE ENDS OF THE OBJECTS AND MOVING THEM INTO LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE OTHERS, A SERIES OF ROTATING BRUSHES POSITIONED ABOVE AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE SURFACE FOR ENGAGING RAISED OVERLAPPING OBJECTS AND SWEEPING THEM BACK UP THE SURFACE TO REARRANGE THEM, AND FEEDING MEANS BELOW THE BRUSHES FOR DISPENSING OBJECTS PASSING UNDER THE BRUSHES. 